阅读理解
The question of what children learn, or how they should learn, is continually being debated. Nobody dares to defend the old system, the learning of lessons parrotfashion, the grammarwithawhip system,
which was good enough for our grandparents. The theories of modern psychology have stepped into
argue that we must understand the need of children. Children are not just small adults; they are children
who must be respected as much.
Well, you may say, this is as it should be, a good idea. But think further. What happens?
"Education" becomes the responsibility not of teachers, but of psychologists. What happens then?
Teachers worry too much about the psychological implications of their lessons, and forget about the
subjects themselves. If a child dislikes a lesson, the teacher feels that it is his fault, not the child's. So
teachers worry whether history is "relevant" to modern young children. And do they dare to recount
stories about violence? Or will this make the children themselves violent? Can they tell their classes about
children of different races, or will this encourage racial hatred? Why teach children to write grammatical
sentences? Verbal expression is better. Sums? Arithmetic? No. Reallife mathematical situations are more
understandable.
You see, you can go too far. Influenced by educational theorists, who have nothing better to do
than to write books about their ideas, teachers leave their teachertraining colleges filled with grand,
psychological ideas about children and their needs. They make elaborate (精致的), sophisticated (复
杂的) preparations and try out their "modern methods" on the longsuffering children. Since one "modern
method" rapidly replaces another the poor kids will have had a good bellyful by the time they leave
school. Frequently the modern methods are so sophisticated that they fail to be understood by the
teachers, let alone the children; even more often, the relaxed discipline, so essential for the "informal"
feelings the class must have, prevents all but a handful of children from learning anything.
1. People do not dare to defend the old system mainly because under the old system ________.
A. too much grammar was taught to children
B. children were spoiled
C. children were treated as grownups
D. children were made to learn passively
2. What view do the modern psychologists hold?
A. Children must be understood and respected.
B. Children are small adults and know what they need.
C. Children are better off without learning lessons.
D. Education of children is the responsibility of psychologists.
3. What happens when teachers pay too much attention to the psychology of their lessons?
A. They find that the children dislike the lessons.
B. They tend to blame students for their failure.
C. They do not pay enough attention to the actual lessons.
D. They no longer want to teach children history.
4. Grammatical sentences are regarded as unimportant because ________.
A. it is better to use verbs only
B. words are said out of natural feelings only
C. talking freely and naturally without sentences is a better form of expression
D. it is felt that formal grammar rules might cause unnatural expressions
